Knuckle protection device and method of use

ABSTRACT

A knuckle protection device for covering and protecting an individual&#39;s knuckles includes an elongate body section including an interior segment for covering and protecting the individual&#39;s knuckles and end segments to be secured to the inner surface of an individual&#39;s hand when the interior segment is covering the individual&#39;s knuckles. A plurality of transversely spaced apart attachment strips are joined to and extend outwardly from an elongate side edge of the interior segment and are positioned to be received between fingers of an individual&#39;s hand and secured to the inner surface of the hand when the interior segment is covering and protecting the individual&#39;s knuckles. 
     A method of using the knuckle protection device described above including the steps of positioning the elongate body section on the backside of an individual&#39;s hand with an interior segment thereof overlying the individual&#39;s knuckles, folding the transversely spaced apart attachment strips between the outer four fingers of the individual&#39;s hands and securing these strips to the inner surface of the individual&#39;s hand and wrapping one end segment of the body section about an end surface of the individual&#39;s hand and wrapping the other end segment of the body section between the first finger and thumb of the individual&#39;s hands and securing the end segments to the inner surface of the individual&#39;s hand.

RELATED APPLICATION

This non-provisional application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) of U.S. provisional Application Ser. No. 61/814,851, filed Apr. 23, 2013, entitled Knuckle Protection Device.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the invention

This invention relates generally to a knuckle protection device and its method of use for protecting the knuckles of an individual's hand and more specifically for protecting the knuckles of an individual's hands from bruising, scratching, chaffing or otherwise being injured when the individual is participating in a sports activity, such as football or boxing, with or without gloves.

2. Description of Prior Art

A variety of hand protection devices for individuals participating in sports, e.g., boxing, football, etc. is known in the art, as is illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 1,627,382 (Golomb); U.S. Pat. No. 4,287,609 (Amadeo); U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,269 (Ballard); U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,928 (Avila); U.S. Pat. No. 6,013,044 (Estwanik); U.S. Pat. No. 6,119,267 (Pozzi); U.S. Publication No. 2005/0066404 A1 (Barker) and International Publication No. WO 2008/057125 A1 (Ringstar, Inc.). The entire subject matter of all of the above-identified prior art publications is incorporated herein by reference.

Even though numerous prior art devices are disclosed for protecting the knuckles of an individual's hands, a need exists for a simpler and more reliable structure that can be easily attached to an individual's hand and, if desired, can be disposed of after a single or only a limited number of uses. It is to such a simplified construction and its method of use that the present invention relates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A knuckle protection device for covering and protecting an individual's knuckles, said device comprising an elongate body section including an interior segment for covering and protecting the individual's knuckles and end segments including an adhesive thereon to be secured to the inner surface of an individual's hand when the interior segment is covering the individual's knuckles. A plurality of transversely spaced apart attachment strips are joined to and extend outwardly from an elongate side edge of the interior segment, said strips being spaced apart to be received between fingers of an individual's hand when the interior segment is covering and protecting the individual's knuckles. The attachment strips each include an adhesive on the inner surface to secure the strips to an inner surface of the individual's hand when the interior segment is in a position covering and protecting the individual's knuckles.

In a preferred embodiment, the interior segment and transversely spaced apart attachment strips are of a unitary, one piece construction.

In the preferred embodiment, the elongate body section is dimensioned to position end edges of the end segments spaced-apart from each other at the inner surface of an individual's hand so as not to impede the individual from providing a closed fist while wearing the device.

In accordance with this invention the transversely spaced-apart strips are formed as separate members from the elongate body section and are fastened to the body section adjacent the elongate side edges in said spaced apart relationship by stitching, adhesive, Velcro fasteners, or the like.

In the preferred embodiment, three attachment strips are provided to be positioned between the four fingers of the individual's hand; not including the space between the thumb and the first finger.

In accordance with this invention, the elongate body section is dimensioned to permit one end segment to be wrapped about an end surface of an individual's hand and the other end surface to be wrapped between the first finger and thumb of the user's hand when the interior segment of the device is covering and protecting the user's hand.

In accordance with the method of using the knuckle protection device the following steps are employed: positioning the elongate body section on the backside of an individual's hand with an interior segment thereof overlying the individual's knuckles, folding the transversely spaced apart attachment strips extending outwardly from the body section between the outer four fingers of the individual's hands and securing these strips to the inner surface of the individual's hand through adhesive included on inner surfaces of the strips, and wrapping one end segment of the body section about an end surface of the individual's hand and wrapping the other end segment of the body section between the first finger and thumb of the individual's hands and securing the end segments to inner surfaces of the individual's hand.

In accordance with the most preferred method, the end segments are secured to inner surfaces of the individual's hand in a spaced-apart relationship leaving a palm region of the hand unconfined by the device to permit an individual wearing the device to easily close his/her fist.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be or fully understood with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a knuckle protection device in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom, or inside view of the knuckle protection device illustrated in FIG. 1, with adhesive sections for attaching the device to a user's hand being illustrated;

FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an initial step of positioning the knuckle protection device for attachment to a user's hand in accordance with the method of this invention;

FIG. 4 is an inner plan view showing the inside or palm side of a user's hand with the knuckle protection device attached to the user's hand; and

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of a user's hand with the knuckle protection device of this invention attached thereto;

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THIS INVENTION

A knuckle protection device in accordance with this invention is generally shown at 10 in FIGS. 1 and 2. As can be seen in these figures, the knuckle protection device 10 includes an elongate body section 12 having an interior segment 14 for covering and protecting an individual's knuckles, and end segments 16, 18 including an adhesive thereon, e.g., 16′, 18′ to be secured to the inner surface of an individual's hand when the knuckle protection device 10 is attached to the individual's hand, as will be described in greater detailed hereinafter.

Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 the knuckle protection device 10 includes a plurality of transversely spaced apart attachment strips 20, 22, 24 joined to and extending outwardly from an elongate side edge 26 of the interior segment 14 of the body section 12. These strips 20, 22 and 24 are spaced apart to be received between fingers of an individual's hand when the interior segment 14 is covering or protecting the individual's knuckles, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Referring specifically to FIG. 2, both of the end segments 16, 18 include adhesive 16′, 18′ on the inner surfaces thereof, and these adhesive surfaces are covered by release liners, e.g., 26 that need to be removed prior to use. In the illustrated embodiment, only one release liner 26 is shown, and is illustrated in a position partially removed from its underlying adhesive layer 16′. In addition, outer segments of the attachment strips 20, 22 and 24 also include an adhesive layer 20′, 22′ and 24′ respectively, and release strips (not shown) are provided on these adhesive layer prior to use of the device 10.

Although not all of the release strips are illustrated, it is a well-known to provide release strips on pressure sensitive adhesive layers for the purposes of protecting the adhesive layers during packaging and shipment of a product, and for permitting exposure of the adhesive layer at the time of intended use of the product. For example, release liners are commonly employed on adhesive tape, adhesive bandages, disposable diapers, and similar devices and products.

It also should be noted that pressure sensitive adhesives are widely known to individuals skilled in the art and can be the same types of adhesive employed on bandages, disposable diapers and the like. Moreover, it is possibly to include glues and other fasteners on the end segments 16 and 18 of the body section 12, and on the attachment strips 20, 22 and 24. The specific adhesive, glue or attachment means employed does not constitute a limitation on the broadest aspects of this invention.

Also, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, in the preferred embodiment of this invention the transversely spaced apart attachment strips 20, 22 and 24 are unitarily formed with the body section of the device to for a one piece construction. In this embodiment, the spaced apart attachment strips 20, 22 and 24 can actually be formed from the material forming the body section 12 by cutting out segments of that material surrounding the regions intended to define, or form, the attachment strips.

Alternatively, the spaced apart attachment strips 20, 22 and 24 can be formed as separate components and then stitched or otherwise attached in a spaced apart relationship to the interior segment 14 of the body section 12 in a desired spaced-apart relationship to be received between the fingers of an individual's hand, as will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

It should be understood that the material employed to form the knuckle protection device 10 does not constitute a limitation on the broadest aspects of this invention; such materials being well known in the art. For example, and not by way of limitation, the material can be a woven fabric of the type employed in commercially available bandages that are wrapped about a sprained or otherwise injured appendage of an individual, and also can include a variety of other materials. For example a number of the fabrics and laminates disclosed in the prior art publications incorporated fully herein by reference can be employed in this invention.

For example, and not by way of limitation, the material employed to form the knuckle protection device 10 can be a laminate having an interior padding material (e.g., foam, cotton, etc.) sandwiched between outer, confining fabric layers, in a manner similar to that shown in Golomb, U.S. Pat. No. 1,627,382, the subject matter of which already has been incorporated by reference herein.

In fact, the material making up the device 10 can be made cotton, leather, or other materials well known in the art. The important feature or property of the material employed in the device 10 is that the material is sufficiently flexible to conform to the individual's hand and to permit the individual to flex his/her hands into a fist without creating any undo impediment to such motion. Of course, the material also must be capable of providing the desired protective function, and this may dictate whether a laminate is used and also the thickness of such a laminate.

Referring to FIGS. 3 through 5, the manner in which the knuckle protection device 10 is used or placed on an individual's hand 30 is illustrated. As shown in these figures the device 10 is designed and dimensioned for being attached to an individual's right hand 30. However, as explained earlier, in the preferred use of this invention a device similar to device 10, but designed and dimensioned to be used on the individual's left hand (not shown) also is employed. In most sports situations, e.g., football, boxing, etc., it is desirable for a protective device 10 to be worn on both hands of an individual. However, as stated earlier, in accordance with the broadest aspects of this invention it is possible to employ a protective device 10 on only one hand of an individual.

Referring to FIGS. 3, it can be seen that the elongate body section 12 is positioned over the knuckles of the individual's hand with the transversely spaced apart attachment strips 20, 22 and 24 aligned with the spaces 32, 34 and 36, respectively, between the individual's last four fingers. As is clearly illustrated, in the preferred embodiment there are three spaced-apart attachment strips.

Referring to FIG. 4, after the knuckle protection device 10 has been properly positioned on a hand 30, as shown in FIG. 3, the attachment strips 20, 22 and 24 are folded between the individual's last four fingers and are adhesively secured to the inner surface 40 of the individual's hand. Thereafter, the end segments 16, 18 of the body section 12 are wrapped about the end surface of the individual's hand and between the first finger and thumb, respectively, as is clearly shown in FIG. 4.

As is clearly shown in FIG. 4A, the attachment strips 20, 22 and 24 are secured to the inner surface 40 of the individual's hand prior to securing the end segments 16 and 18 thereto, whereby the end segments 16 and 18 overlap portions of the two end attachment strips 24, 20, respectively. Although this is the preferred method of using or attaching the device 10 to an individual's hand, in accordance with the broadest aspects of this invention the end segments 16, 18 can be secured to the inner surface 40 of an individual's hand prior to folding the strips 20, 22 and 24 between respective fingers of the individual's hand and securing those strips to the insider region of the hand.

Still referring to FIG. 4, it should be noted that the central palm region of the patient's hands remains open and unconfined by any portion of the knuckle protection device 10. This permits the individual to easily flex his hand, e.g. make a fist, as illustrated in FIG. 5, without providing an impediment to that movement.

The knuckle protection device 10 has numerous uses; principally by individual's participating in sports. The device 10 is particularly well-suited for use under a boxer's glove to prevent the boxer's knuckles from becoming bruised, scratched, or otherwise injured by impact or relative movement between the glove and boxer's hands.

While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to specific examples and figures, it will apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope thereof

Applicant's device and method of use include other embodiments and variations thereof which are not illustrated in the drawings or discussed herein. Those embodiments and variations, however, do fall within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A knuckle protection device for covering and protecting an individual's knuckles, said device comprising an elongate body section including an interior segment for covering and protecting the individual's knuckles and end segments including an adhesive thereon to be secured to the inner surface of an individual's hand when the interior segment is covering the individual's knuckles, a plurality of transversely spaced apart attachment strips joined to and extending outwardly from an elongate side edge of the interior segment, said strips being spaced apart to be received between fingers of an individual's hand when the interior segment is covering and protecting the individual's knuckles, said attachment strips including an adhesive to be secured to an inner surface of the individual's hand when the interior segment is in a position covering and protecting the individual's knuckles.
 2. The knuckle protection device of claim 1, wherein the interior segment and transversely spaced apart attachment strips are of a unitary construction.
 3. The knuckle protection device of claim 1, wherein the elongate body section is dimensioned to position end edges of the end segments spaced-apart from each other at the inner surface of an individual's hand so as not to impede the individual from providing a closed fist while wearing the device.
 4. The knuckle protection device of claim 1, wherein the transversely spaced-apart strips are formed as separate members from the elongate body section and are fastened to the body section adjacent said elongate side edges in said spaced apart relationship.
 5. The knuckle protection device of claim 1, wherein three strips are provided to be positioned between four fingers of the individual's hand.
 6. The knuckle protection device of claim 1, wherein the elongate body section is dimensioned to permit one end segment to be wrapped about an end surface of an individual's hand and the other end surface to be wrapped between the first finger and thumb of the individual's hand when the interior segment of the body section is covering and protecting the individual's knuckles.
 7. A method of using a knuckle protection device that includes an elongate body section including an interior segment for covering and protecting the individual's knuckles and end segments including an adhesive thereon to be secured to the inner surface of an individual's hand when the interior segment is covering the individual's knuckles, a plurality of transversely spaced apart attachment strips joined to and extending outwardly from an elongate side edge of the interior segment, said strips being spaced apart to be received between fingers of an individual's hand when the interior segment is covering and protecting the individual's knuckles, said attachment strips including an adhesive to be secured to an inner surface of the individual's hand when the interior segment is in a position covering and protecting the individual's knuckles, said method including the steps of positioning the elongate body section on the backside of an individual's hand with an interior segment thereof overlying the individual's knuckles, folding the transversely spaced apart attachment strips between the outer four fingers of the individual's hands and securing these strips to the inner surface of the individual's hand and wrapping one end segment of the body section about an end surface of the individual's hand and wrapping the other end segment of the body section between the first finger and thumb of the individual's hands and securing the end segments to the inner surface of the individual's hand.
 8. The method of claim 7, including the step of securing the end segments to an inner surface of the individual's hand in a spaced-apart relationship leaving a palm region of the hand unconfined for permit an individual wearing the device to easily form a fist.
 9. The method of claim 7, wherein the attachment strips and the end segments are secured to the inner surface of the individual's hand by an adhesive secured to said strips and end segments. 